For those of you that have the amazing Silhouette machine, and haven’t explored a lot of the incredible capabilities, today’s tutorial by Melanie Carey will get you excited to try some new things out. And for those of you that are still on the fence about the Silhouette, this tutorial will help you realize what a fantastic tool the Silhouette machine truly is.

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This tutorial will show you how to use sketch pens to create a title or outline an image to be cut out.

After creating your image in the Silhouette Studio you’ll want follow these instructions.

Note: If you want to add an outline to sketch around an image that you will cut out later you can use the offset feature.

Step 1: Select Objects to be Outlined

Click on the object you want to outline.

Go to the menu bar and select “object” then “offset.” On the right hand of your screen you will see the offset menu displayed.

Click on “offset” then change your offset distance to what you are happy with.

If you do not wish to add an outline to sketch around an image begin with this step:

Click on the “open the cut style window” icon.

Step 2: Deselect Items Not Included In Sketch

To outline your text with the pens, select all the items to be cut and make sure they are not included in the first pass through the Silhouette as the sketch pen instead of the blade will be installed.

Select the item(s) not included in the sketching. In my case I’m starting with the two rectangles on the outside. Note: to select multiple lines press the shift key at the same time you click on the lines.

Select “no cut.”

You will notice those lines are now a faint red color. In order to have the outline (which was automatically included as part of this font) separated from the text, you need to first release the compound path. This will allow the ability to create the outline with the sketch pen and then later cut the text with the blade.

To do this:

Select the text then right click and select “release compound path.”

Select the part to be cut (i.e. the text).

Choose “no cut” from the Cut Style menu. Notice how just the parts to be sketched are in bold red.

Step 3: Select Media Type

Next in the Silhouette Cut Settings select “Silhouette Sketch Pen” as the media type. If you want to make sure that you have a dark sketch line then select the double cut option.

Switch out the Silhouette blade for the sketch pen.

Select “send to Silhouette.”

Select “cut page.” Even though you are selecting cut page, it will use the sketch pens.

You may need to run it through more than once depending on the color of ink and paper you are using.

Step 4: Cut Out Your Shape

Switch out the pen for the blade

Go back to the Cut Style window, select all the lines just sketched and choose “no cut.”

Select the lines to be cut with the blade and selected “cut.”

Go to the “Silhouette cut settings.”

Select media type then “send to Silhouette.”

Select “cut page.” This time it will actually cut since you have the blade installed.

Step 5: Create a Background

Move all the other shapes off the page, select “background rectangle” and select “cut.”

Select “send to Silhouette.”

Select “cut page.”

Here is the final product. Enjoy!

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Thank you Melanie for a great tutorial on expanding our abilities with the Silhouette.

If you have an idea that you’d like to see featured on our How To’sday, please don’t hesitate to share. You can send your idea along with separate image attachments in an email to kristy@stealnetwork.com.